Understanding the Anatomy of Our Scaly Friends

Reptile muscles power movement, feeding, breathing and posture. Their arrangement and performance vary with body form, temperature and activity.

Reptile reproductive anatomy differs among turtles, crocodilians, tuatara, snakes and lizards. Internal fertilisation, egg laying, live birth and reproductive timing...

Reptile skin includes scales, scutes and, in some groups, bony osteoderms. Structure and shedding patterns vary by lineage and habitat.

Reptile eyes, ears, chemical-sensing organs and heat receptors vary across lineages. No single sensory description applies to every turtle, crocodilian,...

Reptile nervous systems process visual, chemical, tactile and other signals. Specialized senses occur in some lineages, not all reptiles.

Reptile digestive tracts reflect diet and feeding pattern. Herbivorous species often rely on enlarged gut regions and microbial fermentation.

Reptile ventilation varies among lineages. Most use movements of the ribs and body wall, while some turtles and crocodilians use...

Reptile circulation varies among lineages. Heart structure and blood-flow shunts help meet demands for breathing, digestion and activity.